When my kid was eight, I told her that when she turned nine her neck muscles would get all soft for about a year and cause her head to hang to one side. Happens to all nine year-olds I said.

She didn't believe me, so I told her to look at the kids in the grade above her at school and she'd notice that they all hung their heads to one side. That's because they're nine and they're neck muscles go through changes but they get strong again when they hit ten.

Mrs. Beirut would nearly choke on her food at dinner whenever me and the kid had this discussion. Kid's looking at me with eyes big as silver dollars, "Is that really true?"

"Sure it is sweetie."